2013 nissan sentra Model Overview

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The 2013 Nissan Sentra isn’t a vehicle worth getting excited over, but for the average compact car buyer who wants a car that will get them from point A to point B, the Sentra may prove to be the right fit. While the Sentra’s performance numbers aren’t going to draw buyers in, its value, fuel economy, and reliability are the strongest selling points of the new-for-2013 Sentra, which also features an updated exterior and interior.

For starters, the 2013 Sentra has a new engine and transmission, a version of Nissan’s 1.8-liter inline-four cylinder engine mated to an updated version of its continuously variable transmission (a six-speed manual continues to remain available for the base Sentra). At 130 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque, it is just behind the Corolla as the least-powerful car in its class. It also barely beats the Corolla with a 0-60 mph time of 9.6 seconds, meaning it’s the second-slowest car in its class. It’s no surprise it was also one of the slowest in its class around our figure-eight course, pulling one of the lowest average g numbers in the process. In a recent comparison test involving five compact sedans, the CVT-equipped Sentra finished last behind the Honda Civic, Dodge Dart, Mazda3, and Kia Forte. The Sentra performed poorly in the handling department, receiving constant complaints over understeer, body roll, and lifeless steering.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Testers said the 2013 Sentra felt roomier than a compact should, with a massive rear seat that’s unusual for a compact sedan. They also noted its “top-notch” interior materials and oversized trunk. The optional NissanConnect navigation system is also intuitive and easy to use, thanks to the simplified functions that makes pairing a phone and inputting an address child’s play. The Sentra is EPA-rated at 30/39 mpg on the city/highway, at the top end of the class for city fuel economy and right on par with the competition for highway efficiency. There’s a “higher performance” SR sport model, however the only performance upgrade it gets are rear disc brakes, which are otherwise available only with the leather seat option.

New for 2013

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is all-new for 2013. It’s bigger, with a new exterior and interior. Nissan also reduced the new 2013 Sentra’s weight, and adopted the familiar trapezoidal front grille with a chrome surround and horizontal bars. Its headlights also come with standard LED running lights.

Key Competitors

Sum Up

2013 Nissan Sentra Pricing

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

$16,590

Certified Pre Owned Pricewhat is this?

$12,550

Certified Pre-Owned Price is the approximate price a consumer can expect to pay at a dealership for a used vehicle that has passed the manufacturer's certification process. This price applies only to vehicles covered under an automaker's CPO program, not to a dealership's own "certified" used price.

Recalls

Recall ID#14V138000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Consequence

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Units Affected

989701

Recall ID#13V068000 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Consequence

A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Units Affected

392

Recall ID#13V069000 - AIR BAGS

Consequence

If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Units Affected

82038

Recall ID#14V138000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SOFTWARE

Consequence

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Units Affected

989701

Recall ID#15V681000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Consequence

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 13, 2012, to April 14, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The remedy is not yet available. Owners will be mailed an interim notification by the end of June 2016 and will be sent a second letter when the remedy is available. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

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